Dubai: Fresh from securing the prestigious Arab Athlete Award at the annual Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Awards, Qatari high jumper Moutaz Eisa Mohammad Barsham wants to pursue his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.
The 23-year-old 2012 London Games bronze medallist and 2013 Moscow World Championship silver medallist was among 16 distinguished recipients of the Creative Sports Award, an honour that aims to spur Arab athletes to achieve greater heights. “It is an absolute honour to be among such an elite group of winners of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Creative Sports Award,” said Barsham, trying his best to make his 1.92-metre frame seem less imposing.
“Hopefully, this award will push me a little bit to achieving my goals. I want to thank His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Qatari Athletic Federation and my coach,” added the former Asian indoor and world junior champion. “Hopefully, I can bring the spotlight on Arab athletes with my achievements.”
Barsham, who jumps off his left foot using the Fosbury Flop technique, left his mark on the London Olympics when he cleared a height of 2.29m to figure in the medals. His mark of 2.38m won him the silver medal at the World Championships.
However, he made history at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon in June 2013, when he cleared 2.40m, becoming only the eighth jumper to have broken the 2.40m mark outdoors, and the first since 2000.
“I was so happy to achieve the fourth highest mark in history but it also showed me that I have the ability to compete with the best and aim for the world record,” he said.
“I need to work hard, both phycially and mentally. I have a good coach but I just need time, because experience comes with time. And I want to stay healthy.”
Asked how high he believed he could jump, Barsham said with all sincerity: “I have no limit, I just want to work hard and achieve the best I can.”
